CUNY(The City University of New York)

What you'll study

The programme blends studio-based visual training with informatics and biomedical science. Core subjects typically include human anatomy and physiology for visualisers, medical imaging and interpretation, scientific illustration techniques, 3D modelling and animation, and principles of visual communication for health audiences. Informatics modules cover health data fundamentals, data visualisation, clinical information systems, interoperability standards, and introductory programming for biomedical applications.

• Anatomy and Physiology for Illustrators — anatomy dissection labs or prosected specimen study, surface anatomy and functional relationships relevant to accurate depiction.
• Medical Imaging and Interpretation — fundamentals of X‑ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound with practical sessions on converting clinical images into explanatory visuals.
• Scientific and Medical Illustration — traditional drawing and digital techniques, editorial illustration, patient education materials and publication-quality artwork.
• 3D Visualisation and Animation — polygonal modelling, sculpting, rigging, rendering and animation workflows for surgical simulation and educational animation.
• Health Informatics and Data Visualisation — clinical data structures, standards (e.g. HL7/FHIR), dashboards and interface visualisation for clinicians and patients.
• Programming for Biomedical Applications — scripting for image processing and data manipulation, often using Python or similar languages, plus APIs and data pipelines.
• Ethics, Communication and Accessibility — patient confidentiality, informed consent in visual media, accessibility guidelines for diverse audiences.
• Capstone Project / Practicum — an extended project or placement with a hospital, research lab, museum or digital health company culminating in a professional portfolio or applied informatics deliverable.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as life sciences, medical technology, fine art, illustration, graphic design, computer science or a closely related discipline. A strong portfolio of visual work is required from applicants with an art/design background; applicants from science or computing backgrounds should supply examples of technical or scientific communication, coding samples or project summaries where available.

• Minimum undergraduate academic performance consistent with graduate admissions at CUNY (specific GPA expectations vary by campus and programme).
• Statement of purpose outlining interest in medical illustration and informatics and proposed areas for the capstone project.
• Two or three academic or professional references.
• Portfolio of visual work (for art/design applicants) or samples of relevant project work (for science/tech applicants).
• Some coursework in human biology or willingness to undertake bridging modules is often recommended for applicants without prior life‑science study.

Career prospects

Graduates combine visual communication skills with informatics knowledge to work across healthcare, education, research and the digital health sector. Typical roles include medical illustrator for hospitals, medical schools and publishers; visualisation specialist for medical device and pharmaceutical companies; biomedical animator for educational media and e‑learning; user experience (UX) designer for healthcare applications; and clinical visualisation or informatics analyst translating data into clinician‑facing dashboards and decision‑support tools.

• Medical/Scientific Illustrator (hospital departments, textbooks, journals)
• Biomedical Animator and Multimedia Producer (educational media, eLearning)
• Clinical Visualisation Specialist or UX Designer (healthtech companies, EHR vendors)
• Patient Education and Public Health Communications professional
• Research assistant or coordinator in medical visualisation and informatics projects
• Freelance illustrator/consultant working with medical publishers, museums and agencies

Why study at CUNY(The City University of New York)

CUNY offers access to the clinical, research and cultural resources of New York City, enabling collaborations with hospitals, research centres, museums and technology firms. The university’s multi‑campus structure supports an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on strengths in life sciences, computer science and art and design. Students benefit from experienced faculty who combine academic, clinical and industry experience, and from opportunities for placements and client projects within the city’s dense healthcare and life‑science ecosystem.

As a public university, CUNY delivers professional training with emphasis on practical, portfolio‑focused outcomes and community engagement. Facilities typically include digital studios, 3D labs and access to imaging and biomedical research infrastructure through institutional partnerships, preparing graduates to move directly into applied roles or further research in medical visualisation and health informatics.